Trailer brake



Oct. 20, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l G. L. KNQX TRAILER BRAKE Filed oct. 22, 1924 oct. 2o, 1925. 1,557,705

` G. L. KNOX TRAILER BRAKE Oct. 20,

G. L. KNOX TRAILER BRAKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 22. 1924 Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STA-'r GARNIER L. KNOX, OFHLQS ANGELES', GAL-IEORNIJA., ASSGNOR T0.`UTILIETY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, -A GQB/PQ'B'ATION OF'GALIEOERNIA.:

TRAILER BRAKE.

Application filed .Qctober 22, 1824:.l Serial No.v 745,131.

Tov all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that 1GABNER L. KNoX, a citizen of the United States, residing Los Angeles, in the county of Les Angeles,V

and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trailer Brakes, of which the following is a detailed specification.V

This invention relates to vehicle brakes and is more particularly concerned with trailer brakes. l

It is well known that each unit in a train of ,coupled vehicles should be provided with independent braking means, and it is, of course, preferable that said means be controllable from the leading unit. One method of controlling ytrailer brakes is to, carry control, cables from trailercarr-ied brake mechanism to a take-upA device et the leading vehicle, and to provide releasable locking means. on each trailer' for holding the individual brake mechanism in set position.Y 'While it is a simple matterto setV trailer brakes by this method it is 1 lllltterI of. some difficulty to provide efficient means for reF leasing themy except by the use of an aux. iliary cable reaching from the leading vehicle to the releasable looking .means on the trailer.-

Another diiieulty in eoiiaeetion with installations of this characterarises from the fact that the coupled vehicles. yare continuallyshifting intheir relative pQsitions, so that the distance between and relative positions. of the Ineehanisms` on the leader and trailer are .continually changing.. Therefore, in order that the flexible cable be all. ways taut enough to insure that the -brake mechanism respond immediately to actuating of Vthe controlling mechanism, and that the, cable be not Overstressed or ,pulled apart when the various trainvr units have relative eeparetive movement (for instaaoe, when turning `corners or when conpli/rre;l slack is teken up es the trein eee/.ends e111k inoline) it is necessary thatsome provision be made for taking up' and paying out the cable. lin e (1e-Pendingepplibation. on brake operaties devices for trailers, filed Marsh, 31,I 1923 Serial No. 629,032, Andrew` L, Parrish, in-v ventor, ie. shown.. a. Qontrol. iieviee4 embodying e, eli-111e carried by tliefleeilinef vehiele eetl having Spring mee-ne oooeteetlvf tendine to rotate the. drone in. .e manner to maintain the brake ebnlyios. Gable constantly taut but yielding to allow 'reverserotation of the drumy (to pay outlcable) vwhen thevehieles move apart, however slightly. .The .anhu-- ating lever has ratchet connection with; the drum s0 said drum may be positively ro,- tated' to take up the cablel When the brakes are to be applied,y but a second cable, also, yeldabl-y belcl. in e taut condition. by the drum, is employed 'for releasing the vbrake set mechanism OIL they trailer` It is among-- the objects of the present inventiony to prof vide e. trailer carried brake mechanism which `may be substituted for the brake.v mechanism shown in said v cfg-pending ap.- plication but which has. the advantage of being eet 'and releasedbyfa ein-ele e'eble-z {Qf Course, it is not to be inferred that my vention, in its broader aspects, ijs llimited to Yuse. in eonneoti'on. with. any partieul'ar.y

controlling mechanism carried by the .leadsl ing vehicle, .or vveveil that. itis limited .in .ite application. to .a trailer, for the mechansin may be used. in oonneetioa with various-typee of control system or may be mounted .on a singley vehicle having` ak self-containedpower unit. Or it may be applied toI ordinary horse drawn. wagons or trucks.. When usell With e. Single vehicle, or in. certain .trailer installations, it ,uiineoeesary the@ tbe4v eo-nneetion between eetiietng liever ariel bieke mechanism be flexible, inA whieh situation,

the take-.up .and pay-.out drum is' -unnec Hovvevell it. will be'readily under.-

sary. d stood that the invention is especiallyvap-r mechanism, and therefore, I' have illustrated and will describe it, es embodied .iii .connection with/suoli'meehanisml I avveretbat itis old inthe to prof vide e Single. eable.- between. an, actuating lever or .drum on. 4.the,leading veliiele and a brake vmechanism on the trailer, but'soy far Pl'eeble to Gable Controlled ,trailer brake es I.. am ewa-re, all. flevifeee before, mine lleve beel1 released by eveudden sharpl tug ori-tbe actuating cable, or by pulling up ontheeablge,

and Suddenly releasing or .elaekeniiis it,.tl.ie.

locking parels ot the. brakesetting, ineclria-r nism being freed' from operative engagement from oomplementary ratchet, .teeth by .Sileli manipulation of tbeA cable!r 'Ellie .System .is

fundamentally Week for.,r assemliistbet the brakes.. are folly er almost.: tally Set., there ie ordinarily 'not sud'ieieat Sleek. left inthe cable -to allow it to bel teiten. lip. the addi.- tional. amount to. trip. the loekias pawl. At best,V there is no provision for positively releasing the setting mechanism, and the operator must often snap the cable repeatedly before the locking pawls free themselves from the ratchetl teeth.

I provide a swinging brake bar on the trailer, said bar being operatively connected to the trailer brake and there being a spring actuated pawl on the bar adapted tol engage a stationary ratchet bar on the trailer. The operating or control cable is yieldably connected to the brake bar and has a trip connection with the pawl so, after theV cable has been tensioned beyond that de grec necessary to set the brakes, the cable moves with relation to the brake bar and trips the pawl connection. The pawl is then spring urged from operative engagement with the ratchet teeth to free the brake bar and allow brake release. Expressed otherwise, the pawl is tripped when the brake bar offers more resistance to brake setting movement than the yyieldable vconnec- Ition between/ cable and'bar offers tocable movement. YAn,adjustn'ient is provided for varying the degree of spring resistance in the -yieldable connection between cable and bar, the adjustment thus serving to vary the degree of .brake application allowed before the pawl is automatically released.

Ifalso provide a 'pawl resetting cam whereby it is returned to operative position when the brake bar moves back to starting` position. y

Other novel features and objectsof the invention will be set forth in the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a truck and trailer; coupled together, showing my device in conn nection. therewith; "n Fig. 2 isla side elevationof Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is' an enlarged section on line 3--3 Fig. l is a sect-ion, partlyvcontracted, on line 4,4 of Fig. 3; I Y

5 is an enlarged plan view. partly in section', of the trailer carried portion of my device, showing it in the positionassumed when the brakes are fullyy released ;y

Fig, 6 isa -view similar to Fig. 5, but showingthe device in the position it assumes when the brakes have been set and the locking pawl snapped into releasedv poun s I sition and in any suitable manner to a towed vehicle- 12, hereinafter called' atrailer. I have conventionally illustrated Vthe trailer brake mechanism, asit may be' of any suitable type; for instance, brake bands 13 may be brake and equalizer bar normally in release position. yOf course bands 15 and bar 16 may be held in release position by independent springs or the brake and equalizer may be of types other than shown, as the particular type employed is not'important to my invention.

The locking mechanism for releasably maintaining the trailer brakes in set ,position is best shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. nn operating lever is fulcrumed to frameT at 21, and member 212L is connected to lever 2O at 2lb and to rod 23 at 22, said rodextending' rearwardly to equalizer bar 16. Notched or toothed sector 24E is securedat 25 to frame bars 26, the sector' being arched about fulcrum point 21 asa center and being arranged to be traversed by lever 20 when the latter is moved circumferentially. fcourse, member 2.1a may be integfal with lever 0 or rod 23 may be directly connected to said lever withoutldeparting from the scope of my invention. vIt .will be readily understood that clockwise movement of lever 2O (as viewed in Tigs. 1,6 and 6) draws equalizer 16 against theV action ofspring 18 and towards the forward end of the trailer to apply thetrailer brakes, and that when lever 2O subsequently becomes free and unrestrained,A spring 18 serves to release the brakes, draw equalizer-16 towards the rear of the trailer andv swing' lever 2O in a counterclockwise direction back to starting position.

Member 21a carries releasable vmeans for locking` thebrakes in applied condition and yieldable means for connecting lever 2O and control cable C. The member has angularly disposed bores 27 and 28, there also being a connecting bore 27.9, preferably of re-v stricted diameter and coaxial with bcre28.v Longitudinally slidable through bore 27 is a plunger pawl 30 consisting of a pin 31v having` a pin. and slotlost motion connection 32 with head 33, said head having an annular groove 34 and a cam end 35, tln` latter projecting outwardly through the open end of bore 27. Pin L31 extends through restricted bore 36 and its pointedy end 37 is adapted to engage the teeth of sector 9.4. A positioning pin 38 vcoacts with the flatted side or mutilation .of pin v31. to holdsaid pin against rotation,

Pin 31 has collar 39 against the opposite sides of which bear open springs 40, l1 ythe opposite end of spring @engage shoulder 42 formed at the junction of bores 27 and 36, and the opposite end of spring fit1 the inner end ofapawvrlehead 33. Y llhehead v43 of plunger kis ,-slidahle through bore '28 and .is normally 'iheldinitheipositionillustrated f in `Fig. 5 byopen springe?) whicheneircles the shank .of fthe plunger and is interposed between fthe Ihead and adjustment :nut ,46. Plunger fla has .an .axial [bore 147 :through which .head 4s8faof1looking bolt 491s adapted to esli'de. Spring 50 ,'eoaots Withbolt l49 iin a manner to 4hold Lit-inorrnally in -fthe extended position illustrated in aFig. 5, -in Which @position bolt ihead 251 extends -ithrough shore 29 and `into engagement ywith .shoitlder 5.2 7oit pa-Wllhead 33, :pin 53 establishing -ithe limit of full 'bolt extension. llt .will be seen that with bolt L9 ein .extended position, `head 83 is -incapable of longitudinal, separati-ve movement Wit-lnrespeet f-,to mem'ber'lf. Now spring 40 yis normally under fcompression eo, but for spring 411, .when bolt) .is in lextended position, said spring 40 would tend Yto telescope pin f3.1 and :head fil-3 :(the -entent of telescopio movement being A,determined by the length .of ,the ,slot fin lost motion connection 32) .and disengage :the pan'fl from `-seetor 214:. However, spring tgl Lis of suieent etfective strength Lto ,resist `fthis ,telescopic movement- .and normally retains pin end ,37 in :engagement with it-he sector teeth, though yielding to allow pin 31 to ratchet over fthe sector :teeth when leiter-120 is moved in e clockwise direction as niewed -in Fig. 5,

Attaohmentf control PGable C is made fto lever 2O l*through plunger f l, it @being o bservedthat -spning provides lor yieldnee offthiseonneetion.

vAetuat-ion ofplnnger A:thor applying the brakes and t'or Sllbqllentl releasing fthe locking mechanism nah clr helds :the brakes in A`applied rendition, accomplished in various;1nanners,;all;lying Within the seogpe of any ,invention in `its fbroaderfqaspeets, but I will describe the operation of :the devine through .e entrel feeble- 'iEnrthenmorfe there is fa certain interaeten :between `.the

rGable actuating Aanechhanism .and `the afableeontrolled -mechanism Whig/h renders them a "novel comb-mation, gand -centain et vmy claims are ,drawn 't0 this eomlaination,"

However, it is not. to vbe inferred that -the vcontrolled mechanism iS feperetiae Aand aiseful only when .in such a particular combination.

:Cable r`C extends to hollow ldrum, 5v5 f-ffsvee erably given one ormore turns abontfidrum kand 'is' anchored thereto an any suitable manner; afer inst-ance, the ycable 4ext-remity 6l ,may the 4'passed :through aan .aperture :in the peripheral ffaeeof thetdrnvm andsecured to bolt a `Within the drum.

Spiral vspring 62 ,is anrange'd VWithin ldrum l 55one extremity oit said spring being v anehored at 63 to stationaryshaft 56 and tghe other extremity being secured 'atsrl to drum bolti60b. `lVhen,cable-C is operativelyieon- SpringQ is relatively Weak fivith respeet to equalizer Spring 18 and plunger spring 45 but is off sutlioient strength to compensate kfor .any relative movement between truck .and trailer, lthe spring yielding Eand taking' np Iduizing suoli movement s o as to constantly ;maintaineable aC in compara.- tivelyitaut fondation, Whether the brakes (he in released or setoontlition.

Drum 55 0r plate'l, isprovidedwfith-peripheral teeth 65. `A111 I aetnating legver'66 is journale'dfon .shaft 56 adj-aoent drum 5,5 ,and pivotally supports va drivdng pamlfG' A eonneotingnodS entends trom latoh handle 69, pivoted yon lever 66, `to the teil 70 oi paavl 67. Spring 7l enoircles rod -68 Afand interposed betxveen the lever ear-reed Stop 72 'andithe tail Lof the l,paivl, )whereby it .yieldably holdsfthe pawlontof engagement eviith teethl. v

Assume that-thetrailer @brakes are'in -release position yand fthe-operator Q has oeeasion teleprlyehem. By includinefthehandle et lever 66 and 'lateh handle t69 in -h-is ,grasp rod 68 nnay be 'lijted lagainst the action fot spring ,7111 torotatepaxvl intoengagemont Withteeth 6,5. By then imparting agfloel:- Wfi-sefswing--to lever 66 (les vieavedfin Eig. pawlf .rotates dimm {B5-in Ethe same Adirection, gthus Windingnble C upon the .drum Spiral springe@ aids rather than nessts tthe described drnmretetoe,

Cable Q Ithus fdrayvs `rplunger 4:4 to the l,left in Fig. 5, and since spring 45 is stronger thanoeqnalizer `spring 18, there xis, ,at tiret, little .or no separative longitudinal movementbetween -.said plunger ,and Vmember 2.1, lever 120 being sf-Wilma in e Cleekivse direction (as viewed `in ,-lig. 5) drawing rod 23 and equalizer bar (16 tofgthe lett in ,Fig .l (.againstthe aetiQn @terrine 'f1-8) :andamiang thetrzeiler brakes,-

,A-s elever :20 traverses fseeter 24, peel :Pian

31 ratchets ererthe .seater terrine al yield f ing to Aallow retraetionfof the pinas tit ,rides overethe `teeth inelines) jand holds ,lever .20` trem :swinging beek t0 release freeitenfefter the Operator lhas Secured the desired degree of brake application. such a time he may remove his hand from lever 66 to release pavvl 67 from the drum teeth. Or if one movement of handle 66 does not sutiice to apply the brakes with sutlicient force,v he may swing said handle back (pavvl 31 holding lever 2O from returning to release position while pavvl 57 is disengaged from the drum teeth) reengage pawl 57 and rotate drum, 55 further.

Now depending upon the adjustment of nut 46, there will come a time during the taking up of cable C when the resistance offered by the brakes to further clockwise rotation of lever E20 will be greater than the resistance offered by spring 45 to longitudinal movement of plunger 44 through bore 28, and when this time arrives (of course nut 46 and spring 45 will be adjusted so such time will ordinarily be aft-er the brakes are more or less fully set) the plunger in its further movement and due to the coaction of pin 53 with head 48 withdraws holt head 51 from pawl shoulder 52 (sce Fig. 6). Thereupon spring acts to shoot pawl 3Q to retracted position, that is, ont of engagement with the sector teeth. Pin-74 limits the extent of rpawl retraction.

New if the operator is grasping latch handle 69 at the time he pulls cable C suiiiciently to withdraw bolts 49, and continues tohold lever 66 so drum 55 cannot rotate in a counterclockwise direction, he is able to hold the trailer brake from going to release position, or by allowing handle 66 to move slowly in a counterclockwise direction. still with pawl 67 engaged, he may gradually relieve'the brake application, since spring 45 e iirst moves plunger 44v back t-o initial posidrum teeth before the drinn is free to rotatev tion (spring 50 yielding to allow the necessary relative longitudinal movement between the plunger and the bolt 49) and equalizer spring 18 then swinging lever 20 in acounterclockwise direction. Usually, however, it takes more than one oscillation of lever 66 to set up the bra-kes and subsequent,- ly retract bolt 49. rllhereforeit is usually necessary that pawl 67 be released from the back suiiiciently to release the brakes entirely.

Now after pawl 30 has been disengaged from the sector teeth and b efore the brakes are released, equalizer spring 18 ltends to normaloperation, when the brakes are set and the operator desires to release them.y he pulls lever 66 towards him sufficiently to cause retraction ofr bolt 49 and then immediately releases his hold on the. lever. Instantly spring` 45 returns plunger 44 to its initial position and equalizer spring 18 acts through the various connecting elements in a manner to rotate drum 55 in a counterclockwise directionand, since pawl 67 is frietionally held in engagement with the drum teeth, lever 66 is also swung in a counterclockwise direction, causing` pawl 67 to be freed from the drum teeth by the coaction of cams 75, 7 5a, and hence allowing the drum to continue in its rotation (without further rotation of lever 66) until the trailer brakes are fully released. Or the operator may manually move lever 66 back untilfpawl 67 is released. by the described cam action. y,

As bar 20 moves back to starting position, cam 35 of pawl head 33 engages cam member 78 on fra-me bar 26, and pavvl 80 is thereby thrust back to extended position against the action of spring 40. iVhen it reaches thisv position, spring 50 moves bolt 49 forwardly untily head 51 again engages sho-ulder 52 to lock the pawl releasably in such position. i

ln Fig. 7 is shown a modified form` of pawl lock. Plunger 44 has a rigid eXtension 51a (substituted for the relatively movable bolt 49 in the preferred form) adapted to engage shoulder 52m a manner to lock the pawl releasa-bly in extended position; and such an arrangement lies within the scope of lcertain of my broader claims. However, the use of member 49 (which may be considered an auxiliary plunger) is preferable in that ja. relatively weak spring 50 may be employed for biasing it into operative position, while spring 45 is necessarily of considerable strength. In fact, spring 45 must be of such strength that extension 51a is likelyl to bear so heavily against the peripheral face of head 34 when in the position of F ig. 6, that it offers excessive resist-' ance to movement of the pawl `from retracted toextended position, and vwould tend to cause excessive wear o-n head 34 or eXtension 51a.

Now it might be supposed that when setting up brakes, operators would often inadvertently pull the cable sufficiently to release pawl 30 before such release was contemplated. However, it is 4found in actual practice that operators soon learn by the feel of lever 66 or by the response of the trailer, how'far they may take up the cable without tripping the pawl. Grr the operators learn by practice that it requires a certain amount of lever movement to set the brakes (or more accurately, to secure the desired degree of brake application, since mit 46. maybe so adjusted that spring 45 yields to allow pawl release before the brakes are fully set) fand that any lever movement kbeyond this will trip the brake setting look.`

While l have described and illustrated@1 preferred embodiment'of my invention l do not Wish to be limited thereto, for Vvarious changes indesign, structure and arr-angement may be made without departing ,from the yspirit and scope of the appended claims.

VVlalaving deSCribcda preferred form ot my invention, l claim:

l. In a. vehicle brake control mechanism, an operating lever operatively connected to the vehicle brakes, a control member operatively connected to the lever for moving it to brake applying position,-1-eleasable means 'for looking the lever in-brake applying poan operating lever operatively c'onneetedto the vehicle brakes, yieldable means for maintaining the lever normally in brake :release positiorna control member operatively 'oonnected to the lever andadapted to be moved in one direction toniove the lever to brake applying position against the action of' said yieldable means, releasable means for locking the lever in ybrake applyinglposition, a trip mechanism for holding the locking means normally in operative position, said mechanism being, operatively oonneeted -vto and adapted to betripped by movement ot said control member insaid .one direction, means for, moving the lookingrneansto release position when said mechanism is tripped, and means for automatically returning vthe looking means tolockingpQS f1 tion and resetting said trip mechanism when said lever is subsequently returned to brake release position by said yieldeble ineens- 3. In a vehicle brakeeontrol mechanism, an operating lever operatively collineoted to the vehicle brakes, a control member operatively connected yto the lever yfor moving it to brake applying position, ar lockingpayvl on the lever and having ratchet engagement with a stationarily mounted member onthe vehicle frame, a spring-normally tending" to urge said pawl outof yratchet engagement with the member, ,-andreleasable meansoperatively connected 4 to the control y member for holding` said payvlinratchet engagement against theaction ,of the spring, said means being adaptedtobe released by` movement ofthe control member to allow the Vspring to' move the pawl positively Iont of ratchet engagement with said stationary member.

Ll. `In combination with ka leading vehicle tion, said ineehonisin being .operatively oonlever on the .trailer operatively eonneeted to the trailer brakes, brake control means on the leading vebiele, e Qontrol eeble oon- .neetnggsaid' control ineens and seid operaties' lever., yieldeble, take-up -ineensndepted' to coact with said' control means in a 4'manner to retain gthe cable in' a tantecondition, said control means being; movable in amannertoctake np the. eontrol cable positively -and thereby mov ethe operating. lever4 to for locking the lever in brake applyingl position, a trip mechanism for vholding the looking ineens normally i operative posineetedtoand adapted to .be tripped .by

movement .of the oontrol rneniber, and ,Ineens ror movingtheloelnng means. to' releaseposition Whentbe r1neehanisln s-trippedln vehiele, broke oontrolnieehenisin, an ope. ting liever operatively eonneetedto the lbehielt. brakes, 'oon-trol AI nelnber at-- lashed to but oepableof relotivenioveinent with respect to the lever; releer-sable ineens for looking the operating lever in lorelreepplying position, :Ineens operatively Connectin'gthe control niemberand lookingnreens and operable for-releasingfthe'loek'ng ineens by niovementot theleontrol member ywith reletion tothe lever,` yieldeble ineens for resisting relative movement between jtli'e control member and lever ltvhereloy movement ot the Control lneniber in one direction is 2l-depted to move thellever to bre-ke applying Iposition until ,the .resista-noe offered by the than the resisteneeoferedby saidyeldable ineens and whereby ftuzr'ther mtr/eineet 4 of the oontrol member is adopted vt0 Operate 'seid look releasing ineens, vand ,ineens for Ymoving the looking ineens to release Peis- 1 the vehiele brakes, -e eontrol;1nerober attached to but :capable oit relative :movement with respeottothe lever, releasable means roi: loelnngrthe operating ler-er in brak@ al?" plyinjg position, means foperatively connect- Ling theoont-rol member and looking Ineens and operable for releasing the looking .means :by movementof the, control -inernber with relation to the lever, adjustable an d-yieldable means for resistingrelativemovement between the l`eontnili member and lever Vwhereby finovement of the control Vmember iiione fdireetion is 'adapted to move the lever `to brake applying position untiltliie'resistanceolered by the brakes to fnrtherf leverfmovement -is greater than the resistancevoffered Lloy'said and e tra-iler eoupled theretofon operating brake applying'.positione releasable ,Ineens .brakes to :further lever ,movementis'jgreeter yieldable means :and whereby nrtlierfinovez nient-o the oontrolniernber isadaptedlto operate said look releasing `means, and n1eans' for moving the looking means to release posi Ytion when said releasingmeans is so operated. v

7. In a vehicle brake control mechanism, an operating lever operatively connected to the vehicle brakes, a control member a.t tached to but capable of relative movement with respect to the lever, releasable means for locking the operating lever in brake applying position, means operatively vconnecting the control member and llocking means and operable for releasing the locking means by movement of the control member with relation to the lever, yieldable means for resisting relative movement between the control member and lever whereby movement of the control member in one irection is adapted to move the lever to brake applying position until the resistance offered by the brakes to further lever movement is greater thanvthe resistance offered by said yieldable means and whereby further movement of 'the control member 'is adapted rto operate said lock releasing means, means for moving the locking-means to release position when said. releasing means is so operated, and

means adapted to return the locking means 'to locking position when said control member is moved in the opposite direction.

8. In aA vehicle brake control mechanism, an operating lever operatively connected to the vehicle bra-kes, af control member attached to but capable of relativel movement with respect to the lever, releasable means on the operating lever and adapted to cooperate with a member stationarily mounted on the vehicle frame for locking the operatinglever lin brake applying position, means operatively connectingthe control member and locking means andoper-able for releasing the locking means by movement of they control member' with relation tothe lever, yieldable means orresisting relative movement between the control member and lever whereby movement of the control member in one direction is adapted to move the lever'to brake applying position until the resistance offered by the ybrakes to further lever movement is greater than the resistance offered by said yieldable means and whereby further move- 'ment of the control member is adapted to operate said locking releasing means, and means for movingthe .locking means to release position when said releasing` means is so operated.

9. In a vehicle brake control mechanism, an operating lever operatively connected to the vehicle brakes, a control member attached to but capable of relative movement with respect to the lever, releasable means on tlieoperating lever and adapted to cooperate with a member stationarily mounted on the vehicle frame for locking the operating lever in brake applying position,

means operatively connecting the control member and locking means and operable for releasing the locking means by'movementof the control member with relation to the lever,'yieldable means for resisting relative movement between the control member and lever whereby movement of the control member in one direction is adapted to move the lever to brake applying position until the resistance oiered by the brakes' to further lever movement is greater than tlie resistance offered by said yieldable means and whereby further movement of the control member is adapted to operatesaid lock releasingmeans, means for moving the'lock ing means to release position when said rel.leasing means is so operated, and cam means stationarily mounted on the vehicle frame and adapted yto `cooperate with the locking meansin amanner to return said locking means to locking position when said control yby movement of the control member with relation to the lever, yieldable means Afor resisting relative movement between the control member and lever whereby movement of s the control member in one direction is adapted vto move the lever to brake applying position until the resistance offered by the brakes to further lever movement is greater than the resistance oiered by said yieldable means and whereby further movement of the `control member is adapted to operate said lock releasing means, spring means for mov.- ing the locking means to release position when said releasing means is operated, and cam means stationarily mounted on the vehicle frame adapted'to engage the locking means and return it to locking position against the action-ofsaid spring means when said control member is moved in the opposite direction.

ll. In a vehicle brake control mechanism,

an operating lever operatively connected to the vehicle brakes, a -control member attached to but capable of relative movement lwith respect to the lever, releasable means on the operating lever and having ratchet engagement with a member stationarily mounted on vthe vehicle frame for locking the operating lever'in brake lapplying position, means operatively connecting the conftrol member and locking means and operable or releasing the locking means by movement of the control member with relation to the lever, yieldable meansV for re sisting relative movement between the control member and lever whereby movement of the control member in one direction is adapted to move the lever to brake applying position until the resistance offered by the brakes to further lever movement is greater than vthe resistance offered by said yieldable means and whereby further movement of the control member is adapted to operate said lock releasing means, means for moving the locking means out of ratchet engagement with said stationary member when said releasing means is so operated, and means stationarily mounted on the vehicle frame and adapted to engage and return the locking means into ratchet engagement when said control member is moved in the opposite direction.

12. In a vehicle brake control mechanism, an operating lever adapted to traverse a stationary element on the vehicle frame, said lever having angularly disposed communicating bores, a paWl longitudinally slidable through one of the bores, a member slidable through theother bore and adapted to extend into engagement with the pawl for holding it in ratchet engagement With the stationary element, yieldable means adapted to hold said member in such engagement With the pavvl, means for moving the member out of engagement With the pawl, and means for moving the pawl out of engagement With the stationary element when the member is out of engagement With the pavvl.

13. In a vehicle. brake cont-rol mechanism, an operating lever adapted toutraverse a stationary element on the vehicle frame, said lever having angularly disposed, communieating bores, a paivl longitudinally slidable through one of the bores, a member slidable through the other bore and adapted to extend into engagement with the paWl for holding it in ratchet engagement With the stationary element, adjustable and yieldable means adapted to hold said member in such engagement With the paivl, means for moving the member out of engagement With the paivl, and means for moving the paivl out of engagement with the stationary element when the member is out of engagement with the paivl.

1d. In a vehicle. brake control mechanism, an operating lever adapted to traverse a stationary element on the vehicle frame, a pawl comprising a pin and head capable of limited telescopic movement, spring means adapted to maintain the pin and head relatively extended, a slidable plunger adapted to engage the head for holding the paivl in ratchet engagement with a stationary element on the vehicle, means for sliding` the plunger out of engagement with said head, and spring means for moving the pawl out of engagement With the stationary element when the plunger is moved ment with the head.

15. In a vehicle brake control mechanism, an operating lever adapted to traverse a stationary element on the vehicle frame, a paivl comprising a pin and head capable of limited telescopic movement, spring means adapted to maintain the pin and head relatively extended, a slidable plunger angularly disposed With respect to the paWl, a bolt telesco-pically arranged with respect to the plunger, spring means adapted to urge the bolt to extended position and into engagement with said head to hold the paWl in ratchet engagement with a stationary element on the vehicle, and means for Withdrawing said bolt from engagement' with said head.

16. In a vehicle brake control mechanism, an operating lever adapted to traverse a stationary element on the vehicle frame, a pawl comprising a pin and lead capable of limited telescopic movement, spring means adapted to maintain the pin and head relatively extended, a slidable plunger adapted to engage the head for holding the paWl in ratchet engagement with a stationary element on the vehicle, and means for sliding the plunger out of engagement with said head.

17. In a vehicle brake control mechanism, an operating lever operatively connected to the vehicle brakes, releasable means for locking the lever in brake applying position, and a pull member operatively connected to out of engagethe lever and'locking means, said pull member being operable to move the operating lever to brake applying position and to release the locking means When the resistance of the lever to further movement exceeds a predetermined amount.

18. In a vehicle brake control mechanism, a releasable locking device operatively connected to the -vehicle brakes for retaining brake application, and means for automatically releasing the locking device When the brakes are set beyond a predetermined degree.

19. In a vehicle brake control mechanism,

brake applyin means operatively connected to the 'vehicle rakes, a single control member operable for actuating the applying means, a releasable locking device for retaining brake application, and means operatively connected to the locking device and to GARNIER L. KNOX. 

